Homecoming suits: How young men can show out on one of high school's biggest nights

As warm summer days give way to crisp autumn nights, a right of passage for high school students is getting into full swing.

While the focus of Homecoming season often is on the dresses, plenty of students and parents are searching for an outfit that will help their sons stand out and hopefully not break the bank.

Though the options can be overwhelming, USA TODAY has some tips to keep the budget in check and create memorable looks for young men while beginning to build the foundation of a killer wardrobe.

Here's what to do:

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Know the code: Homecoming calls for a suit

The semi-formal dress code for most homecoming events calls for a suit, a two- to three-piece ensemble of matching fabric, often worn with a button-front shirt and maybe a tie.

Though young people may think of drab grey offices and bland looks, there's a wide range of opportunity for expression, from bold colors to fun accessories.

Since homecoming is a tad more casual than winter formals and proms, the interpretation of the semi-formal label leans closer to what adults know as cocktail attire.

That allows for suits with subtle but distinct patterns that can be broken into separates. It also allows for patterned dress shirts that can be used in other contexts the rest of the school year.

Ebay, the internet’s thrift store

The most accessible clothing marketplace for second-hand clothing is Ebay, though it can feel like a virtual Wild West with thousands of listings.

Before heading to the site, you'll have to know the following measurements: Chest underneath the fold of the arm, shoulder width from point to point, arm length from the crook, natural waist, outseam and inseam.

Online guides like this one can help figure out how to get it right.

While second-hand listings will provide plenty of options, brands like Tom Ford will still command high prices.

Search for makers that have menswear pedigree without the designer prices. Those include:

• Ben Silver
• Brooks Brothers
• H. Stockton
• J. Press
• Oxxford
• Paul Stuart
• Samuelsohn
• Southwick
• The Andover Shop

For help wading through the options, a website called Put This On runs a column that lists some of the best current finds on Ebay.

Thrift stores, the real-life Ebay

The idea of buying something online only from measurements and without the assurance that it can be returned may be daunting for those who are new to the suit world. For those who want a hands-on experience, thrift stores are a great place to hunt.

Some of the most accessible options in thrifting are Goodwill, Salvation Army and Buffalo Exchange.

Since these stores are donation or consignment based, their stock is influenced by factors including location and time of year. Finding the right piece can take more effort but the potential is there to find under-the-radar makers cheaper than they'd be on eBay.

Vintage stores also are an option. They provide curated stock that can remove some of the guesswork, though the tradeoff can mean higher costs.

Below are some vintage store options across the country. If your city or town isn't on the list, check out this list of the best vintage shops in every state or this GQ list of the 25 best vintage stores in the country.

• Crowley Vintage in New York City
• Playclothes Vintage Fashions in Los Angeles
• Antique Sugar in Phoenix
• LuLa Vintage in Minneapolis
• Knee Deep Vintage in Chicago
• Great Eastern Vintage in Boston
• Lucky Vintage in Seattle
• Relic Vintage in San Francisco

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If the suit has to be new

For those wanting to splash out on new duds, one of the best options is Spier and Mackay.

The online-only company offers half-canvassed, wool suits with non-polyester lining for as low as $298.

As with eBay, there are drawbacks to not being able to try something on first but with the right sizing knowlege, the Canada-based company has one of the best values in menswear.

Spier and Mackay also offers value in its shirt line but for those wanting something a bit more elevated, Kamakura Shirts is the next logical choice.

If an in-person experience is more to your taste, check out SuitSupply. Their entry line of suits is $499 and, like Spier and Mackay, they are half canvassed and made of either 100 percent wool or a wool-dominant blend. The company has stores in major cities across the country.

If department stores are your thing, try to find someone in the suit department to help guide the process. (If they are wearing a waistcoat, contrast collar and collar pin, you'll be in excellent hands.) Associates should be able to answer whether a suit is canvassed or fused, the composition of the fabric and the rough timeline on how long alterations should take if they are offered in store. Otherwise, they may be able to suggest a tailor.

Tailoring tricks

Once a suit has been acquired, a trip to a tailor should be the next step on the to-do list.

A simple way to get insurance in case of a growth spurt is to ask the tailor to finish the trousers with a cuffed bottom. That's a stylish way to keep an inch or two of fabric on the trousers while helping them to drape better.

A tailor can also leave fabric from shortened sleeves in the cuff of the coat.

There are other places where fabric can be stored to accommodate future growth. Asking the tailor to keep some inlay fabric when bringing in the side seams of a coat and the waistband of trousers will ensure that the suit can survive the freshman 15.

Surprising splurge

While the majority of this story has focused on minimizing costs, be open to a contradictory idea: spend on a tie.

You may be scratching your head about splurging on an outfit's most ornamental piece but a tie is impossible to outgrow if it's given the proper care. Throw in a pocket square (though please don't match them), and the two pieces can be used time and again, collecting memories in their silk.

In terms of what to look for, grenadine (either fino or grossa) in darker colors will make an outfit look more formal but repp stripes provide greater flexibility across a range of outfits.

Tie options include:

• Chipp
• J. Press
• Kamakura
• Fort Belvedere
• Kirby Allison's Sovereign Grade
• Sid Mashburn

The start of a wardrobe

Whatever the budget, think of a suit and its various accoutrements as the foundation of a flexible wardrobe that can carry young men from Homecoming to a major school presentation and ideally, the first internship and job interviews.

They could also come in handy for a date or two along the way, too.